AVONDALE, La. -- Last year, the Zurich Classic became the first PGA Tour team event to count in the FedEx Cup era. Now Zurich becomes the first PGA Tour event to have intro music for each team (35 and ties) to make the weekend. (The European Tour has already done the intro music thing).
Each team, this weekend gets to choose an intro song. I see the wheels turning in your head just like they started to in mine. Perfect entrance songs for the biggest golfers on the PGA Tour.
Instead of limiting this to the field at this week's Tour stop, we decided to imagine if the sport's biggest names stepped to the first tee with some music blasting in the background.
Here's what each of the top 11 in the Official World Golf Rankings (and a few other names you might recognize) should use:
1. Dustin Johnson
Song: None
Artist: None
No noise. Just the sound of the driver. Plus, any song that would work would get every disc jockey or tournament director in the country tossed on the spot.
2. Justin Thomas
Song: "Champion"
Artist: Kanye West
As with Kayne, looks can be deceiving with Justin Thomas. Still, undeterred self-belief made them both major champions -- except J.T. won't jump on stage and protest Jordan Spieth or Rickie Fowler winning player of the year!
3. Jordan Spieth
Song: "This Is What You Came For"
Artist: Calvin Harris, featuring Rhianna
And everybody's watching her
But she's looking at you, oh, oh
That's exactly what golf's golden child has brought to the sport since he got here.
4. Jon Rahm
Song: "Livin' La Vida Loca"
Artist: Ricky Martin
Anyone who remembers when this song came out in 1999 knows that the guy singing it was can't-miss, just like Rahm. It's an emotional roller coaster of a song that perfectly describes how "Rahmbo" plays golf.
5. Justin Rose
Song: "Englishman In New York"
Artist: Sting
Yeah, I know his U.S. Open win was at Merion (in Philadelphia), and the Olympic Gold medal happened in Rio, but c'mon ... Play this song, and watch Rose while it's playing, and you tell me this isn't perfect.
6. Rickie Fowler
Song: "Stereo Hearts"
Artist: Gym Class Heroes, featuring Adam Levine
This song starts playing, and every male from age 5 to 55 has all-orange Puma outfits on the first tee. Meanwhile, every female from 5 to 55 slightly smiles and sighs thinking about Rickie as the perfect gentleman on a date.
7. Rory McIlroy
Song: "99 Problems" (instrumental version)
Artist: Jay-Z
Play the instrumental version ... Rory walks on the tee. You know his best is better than your best. He knows it, too. Then he unleashes one of the drivers he's known for ... and there's that little hop-step walk. Yeah, 99 problems, but this man's driver ain't one.
8. Hideki Matsuyama
Song: "Clubbed To Death"
Artist: Rob Dougan
Be honest, raise your hand if you know what Hideki's voice sounds like. So, of course, it has to be an instrumental for Hideki. When you hear this on the first tee, you know something big is about to happen!
9. Brooks Koepka
Song: "Superstar"
Artist: Lupe Fiasco
Want to believe my own hype, but it's too untrue ...
Brooks is self-confident without coming across as cocky. His rise is a tricky road to maneuver -- and then came a wrist injury. This lyric fits:
The world brought me to my knees
What have you brung you
10. Sergio Garcia
Song: "Love Me Again"
Artist: John Newman
I've never seen so many people switch from hate to love as when Sergio came down the stretch at the 2017 Masters. At tournaments, Garcia is now sought after by those fans who used to avoid him.
11. Patrick Reed
Song: "Hate Me Now"
Artist: Nas, featuring Puff Daddy
This would have been the perfect song Sunday at the Masters, both when Reed teed off and when he made the putt on the 18th green to win. Just like Nas and Puff Daddy in the rap game, when it comes to team golf (at the Ryder Cup), you pray Reed is on your team.
NOTABLES
Phil Mickelson
Song: "Lose Yourself"
Artist: Eminem
Don't look so surprised. It was Phil himself who told me how many times he listens to this song when he's in contention. At first, I didn't believe him. Then I saw him come out of the physio trailer singing it ... lyrics dead on!
Tiger Woods
Song: "Still D.R.E."
Artist: Dr. Dre, featuring Snoop Dogg
No matter how long he's away, when he comes back, everyone stops what they're doing to watch and listen.
They want to know if he still got it
They say rap's changed
They wanna know how I feel about it
Sound familiar? If you just played the first 12 seconds of the song, and Tiger walked out when the bass hit ... GAME OVER.